Manuscript Studies
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The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Bringing manuscript culture, modern technology and people together.
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Announcements and News
- SIMS is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2026–2027 Graduate Student Curatorial Fellowship, which aims to support emerging scholars seeking career opportunities in the cultural heritage sector. Applications are due September 11, 2026.
- Check out the newly released list of speakers, program, and abstracts for the 2026 Schoenberg Symposium, Stranger Things, November 12–14, 2026, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts; Free Library of Philadelphia; and Online. Registrations opens September 1, 2026.
- Register for the first SIMS Online Lecture of the 2026–2027 academic year, The Pecia System and the Medieval University Book Trade, ca. 1200–1340 (Alison Ray, Royal Irish Academy Library), Friday, September 11, 2026 12:00–1:30PM EST (via Zoom).
- Register for our inaugural SIMS and Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies (GMRS) Lecture in Manuscript Cultures, Extraction and Reassembly: Glossing as a Model Kit (Jesús Velasco, Yale University), Thursday, October 8, 2026 5:15–6:30PM EST (Kislak Center, Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor and via Zoom).
- Register for our upcoming SIMS and the Center for Italian Studies Fellow in Italian Manuscript Studies Lecture, The Beastly Analog: How Early Modern Medicine Learned to Think through Animal Life (Mackenzie Cooley, Hamilton College and the 2026–2027 Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies and the Center for Italian Studies Fellow in Italian Manuscript Studies), Thursday, November 5, 2026 5:15–6:30PM EST (Kislak Center, Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor and via Zoom).
- SIMS is excited to announce the following Visiting Research Fellows for the 2026–2027 academic year: Anastasia Poliakova (University of Hamburg), Riccardo Montalto (University of Naples “Federico II”), and Gila Prebor (Bar-Ilan University).
- SIMS is excited to announce the 2026–2027 Manuscript Collections as Data Fellow: Laura Morreale (Independent Scholar).
- Read the Summer 2026 issue of our newsletter, and subscribe to receive all future monthly updates on our activities.
- The Spring 2026 issue (Vol. 11.1) of Manuscript Studies is now available in Diamond-level Open Access via Project Muse, as are all previous issues.
- Get all the latest updates from Digital Scriptorium and subscribe to the DS Mailing List.
- Discover BASIRA, the Books as Symbols in Renaissance Art database, a new digital resource for book history hosted by the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies. Enter the database or visit the project website to learn more.
- Join us every Thursday at 12:00PM Noon EDT / 5pm BST for Coffee with a Codex (via Zoom; registration required).
SIMS Blog Posts
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Event Series
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Upcoming Events
List
- Workshop
September 16, 2026
History of Text Technologies: Make Your Own Illuminated Initial
Come and make your own illuminated initial on parchment, using gold leaf and paint!
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Open to the Public
- Workshop
September 17, 2026
Coffee with a Codex: Illuminated Maḥazor
On September 17, curator Dot Porter will be joined by Judaica Special Collections Cataloging Librarian Louis Meiselman, who will show us an illuminated maḥazor (a Hebrew prayer book)
- 12:00pm - 12:30pm
- Online
Open to the Public
- Workshop
September 17, 2026
Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Music
For the Manuscript Studies Interest Group on September 17, we'll look at books about music - treatises and song books - from across time and around the world.
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Open to the Public